Psalm 62:11,12 October 27, 2009

Psa 62:11,12 
God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God. Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.

Here is a series of verses describing God’s sovereignty and goodness, describing the verse above in the context of trial and blessing. What reason have we then, not to trust in Him?

 

Job 2:10b 
What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Lam 3:38,39 
Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good? Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

Job 1:21 
Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Lam 3:22,23 
It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.

Gen 50:20a 
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good.

Rom 8:28 
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

Jas 1:17 
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

1Thessalonians 2:10-12 July 11, 2009

10 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; 11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

 

The above text is an excellent description of our behaviour as Christians, especially for those whom God has placed as leaders (in some manner or the other) in His church.

 

The first 3 principles has to do with our testimony. Are we walking with Christ? Then let as walk as He did while He was on earth. This the world can see. Difficult? Indeed. Yet by the grace of God we can be holy, just as Joseph and Daniel were. Let us therefore strive to behave ourselves wisely, unto the Lord.

To be Devout is to live faithfully: staying close to God and putting Him first in everything.

To be Just is to be righteous, even in the laws given to us by the magistrates.

To be Blameless is to avoid any occasion for people to find fault with us (though we do not deny that we are imperfect).

 

The next set of principles concerns leading those in the church who are under us. We do lead them first by our example (which is also an example of Christ), but also in practical terms. When we speak in God’s name, let us use God’s word for our foundation.

It is of note that we were given a list of 3 aspects to follow when we act as spiritual mentors: to Exhort, Comfort, and Charge. For if we only encourage people to do right, then how will those who hear know what is wrong? If we continually speak condemnations and issue threats of hell fire, where then is charity? So neither should we feed those we teach with only the good news of the gospel when God has given us 62 other books. Thus God has given us the formula for effective preaching of His word.

 

Finally, in verse 12 we are called to walk worthy of God’s calling, for this shall be unto his kingdom and glory. This may be seen as a fuller version of Ecclesiastes 12:13 (where the duty of man is described), for here is the duty of the reborn Christian. May we so live according to this calling.

Luke 7:36-50 April 4, 2009

The story below can teach us many things, but most of all it illustrates that to know that our sins have been truly forgiven, we must first in humility realise the extent of our sins.

 

And one of the Pharisees desired [Jesus] that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, ‘This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.’

And Jesus answering said unto him, ‘Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee.’ And he saith, ‘Master, say on.’ ‘There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?’ Simon answered and said, ‘I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most.’ And he said unto him, ‘Thou hast rightly judged.’

And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, ‘Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.’

And he said unto her, ‘Thy sins are forgiven.’ And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, ‘Who is this that forgiveth sins also?’ And he said to the woman, ‘Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.’

Psalm 124:8 November 26, 2008

Psalm 124:8

Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

 

Why is our help in the name Jehovah? Let us first glance at some of His titles: the Lord of Hosts, the Holy One of Israel, Creator (as we shall see later), a Saviour. Is there any other god or any creature which can claim to have such titles equal or above the Lord God’s? None, for honour belongs only unto God, and he will not give it to another. How privileged are we, then, to be able to call upon the Lord! Not that we summon him – God forbid we consider Him our genie, but we must acknowledge Him in all our ways: praying for guidance and always telling others that God has been our help and will be forevermore.

Now the verse especially reminds us of the fact that the Lord made heaven and earth, and that is to be a great encouragement unto us. For our God is the maker of the cosmos – he created from nothing the vast expanses of space (which we learn from scientists now that space is not nothing), put massive galaxies within, and then gave the sun, moon, and stars to serve us. Though able to create such wonders in the heavens, the Lord also had made the earth for man to live upon. From the habitable regions of our planet (as compared to dead Mars) to the finely tuned laws of nature, the earth was designed for life. Yes, even the special properties of water, the plants which give us breathable air, and our own miraculous bodies give testimony to a Creator.

Thus we also recognise that the entire universe, from its immeasurable diameter to its fundamental tendencies, was made by the Lord, who is still in control and upholds his creation. Think about the innumerable atoms that make up the world, the Lord is aware of where every one is and what it shall do! So we may ask, what is man amongst the cosmos that the Lord should be mindful of us? All creation was made for us, and we ought to be grateful for this.

Therefore, when we ask help from the Lord, we do not ask as though the Lord *might* be able to help. No, the One who has created all things is certainly able to aid his children. When we call upon his name, we entrust all to him, for no good thing will he withhold to them who walk uprightly, if we too desire the unveiling of his will and the building of His church. So thus if God be for us, what can be against us?

Ezekiel 3:17-21 October 17, 2008

The following passage especially pertains to those who lead the flock of God. Yet, every Christian may draw advice from it, for we too are become prophets even as Christ is Prophet, Priest, and King.

First, every person is responsible for their sins, and God will punish it.

Second, it is our duty to point out the faults of others, and not to let them lie.

Third, we are guilty when we omit to warn our friends of sin.

Fourth, when we, in God’s name, attempt to dissuade others from sinning, use the Bible.

Fifth, God does lay stumbling blocks at times, to show us who the elect are.

 

Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.